Public Safety

About Pima County

Air

Pima County Department of Environmental Quality (PDEQ) has regulatory authority for air quality within Pima County including municipalities as an Air Quality Control District , with the exception of the Tohono O'Odham, Pasqua Yaqui and San Xavier Indian Reservations established pursuant to applicable provisions of the Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.), Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.), Pima County Code (PCC), Federal Environmental Statutes, delegation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) via the Clean Air Act, and by delegation from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ). PDEQ regulates ambient outdoor air quality according to rules codified in Title 17 of the Pima County Code, conducts Air Quality Monitoring and provides Community Education about air quality issues.

Pima County is currently in attainment of all EPA National Ambient Air Quality Standards.

Sources of Air Pollution Requiring Permits

PDEQ issues air quality operating permits to facilities known as Stationary Sources which may be any building, structure or installation subject to regulation which emits or may emit air pollution. These facilities must comply with the conditions in their operating permits to limit air pollution. The tab below for Stationary Sources includes information regarding Operating Permits and Compliance Guidance for these sources. Other sources of air pollution include Fugitive Dust, Asbestos and Open Burning, which are also regulated by PDEQ. Air quality regulations lay out the requirements and process for the application and issuance of an air quality permit.

Find a Source and View its Permit

PDEQ maintains searchable tables of stationary sources within Pima County. These tables contain links to view, search and print each permit and other air quality stationary source, permit related documents. Use the links below to view the tables. Browser will open documents in a new window.

Permits

The following direct links will allow access to the permit application process for each type of air permit. Tabs above also contain comprehensive information on each subject, including permit applicability.

Stationary Sources

Information on permitting and compliance guidance for stationary sources can be found in the sections below.

Air Quality Operating Permits

Air quality operating permits include a listing of all air pollution regulatory requirements that apply to the source. The program clarifies the air pollution control obligations of facilities by compiling in one document all of a source's compliance requirements. The intent is that by including all applicable requirements in one permit it will be easier for the source owner, the regulatory agency, and the public to determine if the source is in compliance.

Compliance Guidance for Stationary Sources

Stationary sources with air quality operating permits typically have testing and reporting requirements written into their permits, or have these requirements as a result of an applicable industry-based standard contained in 40 CFR Part 60 (New Source Performance Standards - NSPS) or Part 63 (National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants - NESHAP). More information on Compliance Guidance for Stationary Sources includes:

Stack testing

Compliance certification reporting

Summary monitoring reporting

Excess emissions reporting

Permit deviation reporting

Orders of Abatement

Asbestos NESHAP

PDEQ administers their asbestos program having adopted by reference in Pima County Code the Asbestos NESHAP (National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants). The program's intent is to minimize the release of asbestos-containing material. The regulations require the owner of the building and/or the operator to notify PDEQ before any demolition, or before renovations of buildings that contain a certain threshold amount of asbestos or asbestos containing materials. Additionally, specific work practices are to be followed during demolitions and renovations.

Fugitive Dust

Fugitive dust is particulate matter which becomes airborne, is not emitted from a stack or vent, and has the potential to adversely affect human health or the environment. High levels of dust particles often originate from agricultural, mining, construction and manufacturing activities. PDEQ protects air quality by regulating fugitive dust emissions and inspecting dust-producing activities and sites.

Open Burning

Open burning is the burning of materials such as trees, brush, leaves, grass and other debris where smoke and other emissions are released directly into the air without passing through a chimney or stack. Air pollution from open burning can cause serious health problems, obscure visibility, or damage the environment. PDEQ regulates open burning to address these concerns. PDEQ rules require a permit for open burning, with the exception of campfires, barbecues, and small fires for warmth.
More information on Open Burning includes:

Open burning permits

Open burning rules

FAQs

Report an open burning complaint

Current Air Quality Information

PDEQ monitors ambient outdoor air pollutants throughout eastern Pima County, including the Tucson metropolitan area and Green Valley. More information is available on the Air Monitoring program. Pima County's Air Resources Management provides more information on air pollutants, health effects and historic and current air monitoring data. Pima County is currently in attainment of all U.S. EPA National Ambient Air Quality Standards.

Clean Air Program

The PDEQ Clean Air Program is funded by a grant from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality For more information, visit the Clean Air Program webpage under Information, Education and Public Outreach.

Air Pollution Advisories

PDEQ issues advisories when the Tucson/eastern Pima County area is experiencing poor air quality. More information on Air Quality Advisories is available.

Air Quality Forecasts

The Tucson area has 5-day air quality forecasts from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) thanks to a collaborative effort between ADEQ and Pima County Department of Environmental Quality. This is the first time that ADEQ has initiated air quality forecasts for a region that is attaining the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Both ADEQ and PDEQ hope this program will help the region stay in attainment of those EPA health standards. Anyone interested in receiving the ADEQ air quality forecasts can sign up for texts and/or emails.

Emissions Inventory

In anticipation of possible future nonattainment with the 2015 National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for 8-hour ozone (i.e., 0.070 parts per million), the Pima County Department of Environmental Quality (PDEQ) requires a comprehensive annual and ozone season day (OSD) emissions inventory for the portion of Pima County likely to be classified as a nonattainment area (NAA). PDEQ contracted with Eastern Research Group, Inc. (ERG) to develop the emissions inventory under Pima County Contract No. PO-PO-17-032.

It should be noted that this is a ‘first time’ inventory for Pima County. As such, some data were not available (e.g., daily or monthly operational data for point sources) which contribute to inventory uncertainty. These types of uncertainty are discussed in this report, along with recommendations for improvement when revising the inventory in the future.

The overall summary of the Pima County Emissions Inventory shows on-road motor vehicles are the largest source of NOx emissions (46.5 percent of total emissions) and biogenic sources are the largest source of VOC emissions (80.9 percent of total emissions).

When reviewing the summarized results of the Pima County Emissions Inventory it should be noted that there is also uncertainty associated with this inventory. Any emissions inventory that is not based on directly measured will have associated uncertainty. Emissions inventory development is an iterative process; multiple iterations will reduce the associated uncertainty and improve the overall inventory quality.